IALHI News

Consequences of Deindustrialization

The Societal Consequences of Deindustrialization, 1750-2000
Call for Papers

Deindustrialization is due to various causes, principal among which is loss of competitiveness (as a result of sources being exhausted, inferior product quality, a generally high level of costs, or adverse government policy); it can also be the result of technological advances, however, or management decisions to relocate production facilities, for whatever reason.

Deindustrialization has been studied for twenty years now, particularly by economists and economic historians. Their main focus has been on the unemployment that has usually resulted from deindustrialization processes. In the case of deindustrialization processes in the third world the emphasis has been on the influences of colonialism, imperialism and multinationals. The International Review of Social History intends to devote its 2002 supplement to the broader societal consequences of deindustrialization processes: deindustrialization not only affects employment, it has an impact on social relationships in a region as a whole.

Our aim is to put together articles dealing with deindustrialization processes in both Western and non-Western countries over the 1750-2000 period. Our preference is for studies of a comparative nature, but this is not absolutely essential. We should like to consider the following topics in particular:

1. Deindustrialization and individual survival strategies:
   • The effects on the job market for men and women and occupations
   • The effects on how family incomes are earned
   • Migration
   • Opposition, spontaneous or otherwise
2. Deindustrialization and the effects on the trade union movement
3. Deindustrialization and the politics of municipal, regional and national government

Please send suggestions for articles to:

Bert Altena
altena@fhk.eur.nl
Erasmus University Rotterdam
Faculty of History and Arts
PO Box 1738
NL-3000 DR Rotterdam

Marcel van der Linden

International Institute of Social History
Cruquiusweg 31
NL-1019 AT Amsterdam